ASUNCIÓN – Paraguay is set to showcase its rich culture and boundless potential to the world by celebrating a special day at the World Expo to be held in Osaka, Japan in 2025. On May 19, 2025, Paraguay plans to grandly commemorate 'Paraguay Day' through diverse artistic performances, captivating music and dance, and a feast of traditional cuisine.

Under the theme 'Ikigai Paraguay: Energy that Connects,' Paraguay aims to actively promote its sustainable energy resources, as well as its outstanding ability to connect diverse cultures, economies, and people to the international community. The Osaka Expo, which grandly opened on April 13, 2025, is expected to offer a variety of attractions and experiences to visitors from all over the world for six months until October 13.

For this special day, business leaders representing various industrial sectors of Paraguay will visit Japan to actively participate in strategic business meetings with Japanese companies. This is expected to be an important opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and create new business opportunities.

Furthermore, various commercial activities are planned in several cities in Japan during the Expo period to further solidify and deepen the trade relationship between Paraguay and Japan. These proactive efforts are expected to significantly contribute to strengthening the economic ties between the two countries and promoting mutual benefits.

José Agüero, Deputy Commissioner General of Paraguay for the Osaka Expo, emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, "We expect that trade activities between the two countries will become more active through this 'Paraguay Day,' and this has the potential to bring about results far exceeding past growth rates."

Deputy Commissioner General Agüero also mentioned the enthusiastic interest and high visit rate of the Japanese public to the Paraguay Pavilion, adding, "Through the concept of 'Ikigai Paraguay,' we are presenting Paraguay as a key partner in South America for building commercial relationships with Japan. We consider Japan and Taiwan, a long-standing friend of both Paraguay and Japan, as two important gateways to the entire Asian market. By strengthening our relationship with Japan, we can further expand the market for Paraguayan domestic products."

A Feast of Traditional Crafts, Advanced Science and Technology, Vibrant Culture, and Diverse Food

The Paraguay Pavilion is captivating visitors with its diverse charms. In particular, a wide range of Paraguay's rich traditional crafts are on display, many of which are works of art created by Paraguayan indigenous communities. This provides a valuable opportunity to glimpse Paraguay's deep history and culture.

In addition, a life-size model of Paraguay's first nanosatellite, 'GuaraniSat-1,' is on display, attracting high interest from visitors. This nanosatellite was developed through close cooperation between Paraguayan engineers, Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) in Japan, and the Paraguayan Space Agency, and has become an important symbol of Paraguay's advanced science and technology capabilities on the international stage.

During the weekends of the Expo period, free workshops on making Ñandutí lace, hosted by the Japan Ñandutí Weaving Association, are held at the Paraguay Pavilion, providing visitors with a special cultural experience. Deputy Commissioner General Agüero added, "The Japanese public's interest in Ñandutí is remarkable. The workshops are crowded with people and are receiving great attention from various local and national Japanese media outlets." Ñandutí lace is a representative traditional craft of Paraguay, and its delicate and beautiful patterns, imbued with a long history and culture, are leaving a deep impression on Japanese visitors.

Especially on 'Paraguay Day,' traditional foods such as chipa and sopa paraguaya will be offered as a tasting event so that visitors can fully enjoy the authentic flavors of Paraguay. Chipa is a chewy bread made from cassava starch, cheese, and eggs, and sopa paraguaya is a moist and savory Paraguayan cornbread cake made with corn flour, cheese, and onions. These special foods will be a great opportunity to experience Paraguay's warm hospitality and rich food culture.

The date for Paraguay Day was carefully selected, coinciding with the month in which Paraguayan patriotism is fostered and overlapping with the anniversary of Japanese immigration to Paraguay. This is expected to be more than just a national commemoration day; it will be a special occasion to reflect on the long-standing friendly relations and historical ties between Paraguay and Japan and deepen their significance. Japanese immigration to Paraguay has played an important role in cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries, and this anniversary will be a meaningful opportunity to remember this historical significance.

The diverse cultural performances, art exhibitions, traditional cuisine, and innovative science and technology that Paraguay will showcase at the 2025 Osaka Expo are expected to strongly imprint Paraguay's charm and potential on visitors from all over the world. In particular, through the theme 'Ikigai Paraguay,' Paraguay is presenting its vision as a nation pursuing sustainable development and connection with the international community, going beyond a simple cultural introduction, and is expected to further strengthen its position on the global stage. This 'Paraguay Day' will be an important opportunity to promote Paraguay's rich cultural heritage and future-oriented vision to the world.